Undergraduate Degrees

The USU College of Science offers more than 50 undergraduate major options and nearly 20 minors. From Human Biology to Geoarchaelogy, faculty members prepare students for careers in a wide range of fields. For more information about these programs, visit our departmental websites for program-specific information.

New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to the Biology and Public Health majors. Transfer students from other institutions need a 2.25 transfer GPA; students transferring from other USU majors need to be in good standing with a 2.25 cumulative GPA for admission to the Biology major and 2.50 GPA for admissions to Public Health major.

The USU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers three bechelor degree options with emphases for students interested in fields ranging from professional chemistry, to law, medicine, and chemistry teaching. With options for everyone and a world-renowned team of faculty and instructors, read more about degree options below.

Geology is a major for students who love being outdoors and for those who are interested in discovering, managing, and conserving natural resources. Job opportunities for Geology graduates include petroleum, mineral, hydrothermal, and water exploration and development. Additionally, students are prepared to enter positions in environmental engineering and government agencies where they may oversee land management and research.

Options for studies and future careers abound in the USU Mathematics and Statistics Department. Ranging from mathematics education to computational mathematics and actuarial science, majors in this department prepare students for growing fields. Read more about the department's degree options below.

The USU Physics Department has, on average, over 100 total physics majors and about 15 graduates per year. We offer 5 bachelor degree tracks that can be tailored to your specific career interests. All of our majors participate in faculty mentored research, gaining valuable experience in our campus research centers and laboratories. We are also home to an active, national award winning chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS).

Undergraduate Advising

Students are encouraged to visit with their advisor each semester to discuss course plan options and to ask any questions they may have about graduation, career preparation, or otherwise. Use the information below to determine which College of Science advisor oversees your major, minor, or program, and set up an appointment to meet with them.

Scholarships and Fellowships

There are numerous ways to find financial aid opportunities within the College of Science and through the USU Financial Aid Office. Each department offers scholarship opportunities to students in their programs, and the College of Science Dean's Office has scholarships available each year for students who have declared a major within one of the College's five departments. All available scholarships can be reviewed and applied for via https://usu.awardspring.com/.

Dean's Office Scholarships

The application process for 2019-2020 academic year College of Science Scholarships is now open and available at https://usu.awardspring.com/. The deadline to apply for College of Science Scholarships is Monday, April 1, 2019, at 5 pm MDT.

To be eligible, you must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.7, be in a major of one of the departments of the College of Science and be a full-time (12 credits or more) registered junior or senior for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Campbell Scientific Science Scholarship. Awarded to a junior or senior student majoring in a discipline within the College of Science. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Charles J. Sorenson Scholarship. Award is given to an outstanding science student having high academic ability, personal integrity, providing civic leadership within the community, and demonstrating financial need. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

College of Science Scholarships. Award is given to an outstanding science student having high academic ability, personal integrity, providing civic leadership within the community, and demonstrating financial need. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Dr. Joseph E. Greaves Memorial Scholarship. Recipients must be a junior, senior, or graduate student in related fields in the College of Science at USU. Recipients must demonstrate academic achievement, financial need, and personal Integrity.The student will be awarded a cash prize.

James E. Brown Scholarship. Awarded to either a graduate or undergraduate student, the scholarship rotates annually among the colleges of Business, Engineering, and Science. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Oscar Wood Cooley Scholarship. A scholarship awarded to an outstanding junior or senior having a major within the College of Science. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Dominion Energy Scholarship in the College of Science. Provides assistance to an outstanding science student majoring in computer science, geology, or other physical sciences. Preference be given to students in need of financial aid. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Seely-Hinkley Scholarship. Awarded annually to an outstanding junior or senior with a major in the College of Science. Two scholarships awarded are based on superior performance and financial need. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Theodore M. Burton Scholarship. Awarded annually to an outstanding junior or senior with a major in the College of Science. Recipients will be chosen on the basis of demonstrated academic achievement and financial need. Consideration shall be given to female and minority students. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Biology Scholarships

Datus M. Hammond Memorial Scholarship. Awarded based upon character, and professional promise, the award can be made to undergraduate or graduate students in biology. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Department of Biology Scholarship. Awarded annually to biology majors, this scholarship is contingent upon good performance during the academic year. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Eldon J. Gardner Undergraduate Research Award. Awarded annually to a student who is doing some sort of genetics project in association with one of the faculty in the Biology Department. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

John R. Simmons Endowed Scholarship.Available to junior or senior students majoring in biology and showing scholastic achievement, personal integrity, and financial need. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Pepper Murray Scholarship. Awarded to familiarize pre-med and pre-dental students with business management concepts and practices that are a fundamental part of operating a successful medical practice. Recipients will be junior or seniors majoring in pre-health, and demonstrate a strong commitment to attending medical or dental school. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Richard J. and Marion A. Shaw Scholarship. Awarded to students majoring in biology with a interest in plant biology who demonstrate high academic achievement, superior potential, and personal integrity. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Sedley and Pearl Stanford Memorial Scholarship.To assist undergraduate students seeking a degree in biology, preferably with the intention of a career in ornithology or entomology. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Thomas L. Bahler Scholarship. Awarded annually to students in the Department of Biology with special emphasis for students preparing for a health professions. This award is generally made to a pre-health student with a biology major. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Chemistry and Biochemistry Scholarships

American Institute of Chemists Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship. The award is presented to a senior student in recognition of a demonstrated record of leadership, ability, character, and scholastic achievement. The award consists certificate and a one year free Student-Associate membership in the American Institute of Chemists Foundation (beginning in July).

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Undergraduate Research Awards. Departmental majors will be evaluated based upon the quality of a written research summary and the significance of their results. A $200 cash prize plus a student membership to the American Chemical Society will be awarded.

Environmental Chemistry Award. A top student in Environmental Chemistry will be awarded a $400 cash prize.

Garth L. Lee Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship Award. Three awards will be given to departmental majors who have demonstrated an outstanding command of chemical science and have a demonstrated financial need. One award will be given to a freshman transitioning to sophomore, a sophomore transitioning to junior, and a junior transitioning to senior. Recipients will receive a $2,000 scholarship to be applied to their tuition and fees.

George H. and Billie Bush Emert Scholarship.

One award will be given to an outstanding biochemistry major transitioning from the junior to senior year. The recipient will receive a scholarship for one semester of full tuition and fees.

Harris O. and Eleanor Y. Van Orden Award (4 awards). One to a student in analytical chemistry (quantitative or instrumental), One to a top student in the General Biochemistry series, One to a top student in inorganic chemistry, and one to a top departmental major in Physical Chemistry. They will each be awarded a $400 cash prize, and the analytical chemistry student will also receive a subscription to Analytical Chemistry.

Irving Condie Frost Scholarship. The top student in Organic Chemistry I and II will be awarded a $100 cash prize and a $200 chemical activity grant.

Maeser-Bauer Undergraduate Scholarship. The award is given to two graduating seniors, one in Chemistry and one in Biochemistry, who have demonstrated outstanding academic abilities and who have made significant contributions as a researcher and as a member of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry community. They will each receive a $500 cash prize.

Marjorie H. Gardner Teaching Award.Recipients of this award are outstanding teaching assistants as appraised by student evaluation forms and written nomination letters from Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

R. Gaurth Hansen, PhD, Scholarship. One award will be given to an outstanding chemistry major transitioning from the junior to senior year. The recipient will recieve a scholarship for one semester of full tuition and fees.

Thomas M. Farley Freshman Chemistry Awards. The top College of Science major in each of the Principles of Chemistry courses will be awarded a $50 cash prize and a $100 chemical activity grant. These awards are meant to encourage continued progression from general chemistry into organic chemistry.

Nevill C. and Annie P. Hunsaker Scholarship Award. Awarded to high school seniors who will attend USU and major in mathematics or statistics, or to USU students enrolled in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Generally four-year awards carrying cash payments for the first two years, with some additional support provided through special work opportunities during the last two years.

Sharon Lee Gardner Ellis Memorial Scholarship. Annual cash award given to a student majoring in mathematics education who has the potential to challenge, inspire, and teach young mathematics students.

Geology Scholarships

Beryl & Tura Springer Memorial Scholarship. Awarded to a junior or senior student who has declared a geology major. Recipient must have demonstrated academic achievement. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Clyde T. Hardy Scholarship. Awarded every other year to an outstanding undergraduate geology major in support of geology camp. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

David Rider Memorial Scholarship. Awarded every year to an outstanding junior or senior geology major. Selection based on academic achievement and financial need. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Donald W. Fiesinger Graduating Senior Outstanding Citizen Award. Awarded annually to a student who is a declared Geology major with senior-level standing, be graduating or planning to graduate during the current academic or calendar year, and be registered as an undergraduate at the time of the award. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Graymont Scholarship. Awarded to a junior or senior student, who is making outstanding progress toward a geology degree. Recipient shall be chosen on the basis of academic achievement and financial need. Preferences will be given to a female. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Intermountain Power Association Scholarship. IPA scholarships are for junior or senior geology or engineering majors, with preference given to students from USU Eastern and to those who express interest in the study of coal technologies. IPA scholarships are administered by USU Student Services. Go to the USU AwardSpring website to log in, find, and complete the application. Applications are accepted from January 1 to March 31 each year.

John M. Branch Scholarship. Awarded every other year to an outstanding undergraduate geology major. Intention is to give the award to a geology major based on “interest and aptitude” in geology. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Peter T. Kolesar Scholarship. Awarded to a matriculated, upper-division undergraduate in good standing pursuing a major in the Department of Geology. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Thomas A. Riemondy Scholarship. Awarded to an outstanding undergraduate geology major who is not a resident of Utah. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Physics Scholarships

Dr. Howard L. Blood Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarship in Physics.Recipients of the Dr. Howard L. Blood Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarship in Physics should be physics majors in good standing entering their junior or senior year and anticipating advanced studies in physics, or students entering or continuing their education in graduate studies in physics. Preference will be given to physics students with financial need from disadvantaged financial backgrounds and/or physics students from historically underrepresented populations at USU.

Charles & Leah Hendricks Scholarship. Awarded annually to juniors having declared a major in Physics. The award shall be based on academic merit, along with professional potential and personal integrity. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

David and Terry Peak Outstanding Achievement Award in Physics.Awarded annually to undergraduate and graduate students majoring physics, in recognition of outstanding academic, research, teaching, or service achievement. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Lawrence R. and Abeline Megill Scholarship. “The Lawrence R. and Abelina Megill Scholarship is awarded annually to one student with junior standing and a declared major in physics. The scholarship shall be made on the basis of academic merit. Consideration may also be given to applicants from groups underrepresented in higher education.”

O. Harry Otteson Scholarship. Annual award given to a physics major achieving the highest score in general physics. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Physics Undergraduate Scholarship. Awarded annually to undergraduate physics majors based on scholarly achievement, character, and professional promise. The student will be awarded a cash prize.

Student Involvement

Curate your college experience by engaging in new experiences. Utah State University is full of opportunities to get involved for everyone. Students can volunteer, research, and plan events, all while enhancing resumes, developing frienships, and gaining new skills.

College of Science Ambassadors represent the college on campus and across Utah, including at administrative, recruitment, and outreach events. Applications to join the ambassador team open annually in February or March. Students interested in applying are encouraged to contact current ambassadors for further information.

The Science Student Council represents students in the College of Science as part of the USU Student Association and the College. Headed by the elected USUSA Science Senator the council plans the annual "College of Science Week" that takes place annually during November. Applications to join this council open in April.

College of Science students can get involved with a number of departmental clubs which focus on scientific competitions or events within specific fields of study. Alternatively, more-general clubs are open to students with broad interests through the Utah State University Student Association.

USU offers many ways to get involved with research during student's undergraduate years. Students are encouraged to contact their department's Undergraduate Research Coordinator, or to reach out to professors they are interested in working with. For information about potential funding options, visit http://rgs.usu.edu/urco/.

The USU Val R. Christensen Service Center helps students become actively involved with serving students and the community. Students are encouraged to give back through service with one of the 30+ organizations within the Service Center, including Aggie Health, Best Buddies USU, and Students Together Ending Poverty.

The Career Services Center at USU is a great resource for assisting with job searches. Their team offers USU students help with finding job openings, preparing for the application and interview processes, as well as other important assistance relating to job and graduate school preparation.